At the New England AIF gala guests were amazed and inspired by

the story of a young woman named Madhu Bala Sharma. Madhu is visually impaired and has been trained at NAB (National Association for the Blind) in New Delhi. While being interviewed by Jaaved Jaferi, she wowed the guests with her charm and wit and her utmost confidence.

The story of Madhu Sharma who is blind from birth is very inspiring. When she was eight years old she started selling calendars and bookmarks for the sake of fun, but she loved it so much, that later she took on to selling bangles, gas lighters, and then cosmetics. While at school shealso took on to tutoring so she could earn something to be independent. Through AIF partner NGO, NAB ( National Association for the Blind) who supported her throughout her education she started learning computers. As part of the skill development, she underwent computer

courses in NAB when she was in grade 10 and 12 th . When she was in the final year of college, she got an opportunity to try for the job of a voice and accent trainer in GE capital International Services.

Says Madhu, “I was the first one with visual disability to take up the role of a Voice and Accent Trainer, both at GE Capital International Services and at IBM Daksh, now Concentrix. I took it as a challenge to ensure that I’m able to create a new career opportunity for persons with visual

disability”.

To reach where she is now Madhu had to undergo plenty of challenges .

Madhu says “The trainings that I have undergone in NAB have played an important role in shaping my personality and given me the confidence to be what I am today. There are many more like me, who have benefitted and continue to benefit from such life changing training

programs at NAB.Madhu now says she holds her own workshops to enable others because now the participants all tell her, “You are so inspiring and energetic”, and I say because you believe in me!”